Patriots sign tight end to active roster off Bengals practice squad

Patriots sign tight end to active roster off Bengals practice squad

FOXBORO -- The Patriots have a new face in their tight end meeting room.

According to Jim McBride of the Boston Globe, the team has signed tight end Matt Lengel off of the Bengals practice squad to take up the open spot on its active 53-man roster that was created after linebacker Jamie Collins was traded to Cleveland. Per league rules, the Patriots are required to pay Lengel as a member of its active roster for three weeks.

Lengel signed with the Bengals last year as an undrafted free agent, and he has been on the Cincinnati practice squad for the bulk of his season-and-a-half with the team. He began his college career at Northeastern then transferred to Eastern Kentucky, where he caught 16 passes in 2014.

The 6-foot-7, 266-pounder was present for Wednesday's practice at Gillette Stadium along with fellow tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Martellus Bennett. He wore No. 82.

The Patriots have added some depth to that spot after going into last weekend's game versus Buffalo with Gronkowski and Bennett as the only two tight ends on the roster. The team also acquired practice-squad tight end Austin Traylor earlier this week. Fullback James Develin and practice-squad fullback Glenn Gronkowski could serve some tight end roles if called upon as the fullback duties and tight end duties in the Patriots offense have some similarities.

The Pats signed McClellin to a three-year deal prior to the 2016 season, but that was the only season in which he played for the team. McClellin missed all of last season due to injury. Prior to coming to New England, McClellin played four seasons with the Bears, who chose him 19th overall in 2012.

McClellin's biggest contribution with the Pats came when he blocked a Justin Tucker kick in Week 14 of the 2016 season against the Ravens.